Public Works Committee OKs tower painting but withholds 2026 funding for proposed Waterman Park well amid heavy public opposition

The Public Works Committee voted Wednesday to recommend $420,000 for interior and exterior painting and maintenance of a 400,000‑gallon water tower, but declined to recommend Council funding next year for construction of a proposed production well in Waterman Way Park, commonly referred to in the meeting as “Well 4.” The committee's action follows more than two hours of public comment, most of it opposing siting the new well in the park and pressing for more public engagement and additional environmental testing.

Residents and local property owners told the committee they had not received adequate notice about the project and raised health, process and financial concerns. "There is no need to construct Well Number 4 in Waterman Way Park," said Andrew (registered at 600 Blue Stripe), who argued staff and state records indicate Well 1 remains functional. "We don't need Well Number 4 if Well Number 1 functions perfectly well," he said. Julie Anderson (identified in the transcript as a speaker opposing the funding) told the committee the project had…